Psalm 83 9

Psalm 83:9 kjv

Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:

Psalm 83:9 nkjv

Deal with them as with Midian, As with Sisera, As with Jabin at the Brook Kishon,

Psalm 83:9 niv

Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,

Psalm 83:9 esv

Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon,

Psalm 83:9 nlt

Do to them as you did to the Midianites
and as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.

Psalm 83 verses

Psalm 83 9 Meaning

Psalm 83:9 is a fervent plea from the psalmist to God, invoking His past acts of decisive judgment and deliverance against Israel's enemies as a precedent for dealing with the contemporary confederacy threatening His people and His name. It specifically recalls the total annihilation of Midian and the dramatic defeat of Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, demonstrating God's consistent power to overcome seemingly insurmountable foes. This is a call for divine justice, requesting that God replicate His historical victories to uphold His glory and protect His covenant nation.

Psalm 83 9 Context

Psalm 83 is a communal lament, one of the most intense "imprecatory" psalms. It voices the cry of the nation of Israel for deliverance from a vast and dangerous confederacy of surrounding nations that have allied together to annihilate Israel, to prevent them from being a nation, and ultimately, to desecrate God's name (Ps 83:4, 12). The psalm's appeal to God's past actions in verse 9 (and subsequent verses referencing En Dor and other locations) provides a historical and theological basis for the current prayer. The psalmist remembers how God previously fought for His people when they faced overwhelming odds during the period of the Judges, implying that if God acted then, He is faithful and able to act now. This specific verse recalls God's historic victories over Midian (recorded in Jdg 6-8) and over Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon (recorded in Jdg 4-5). These events were remembered as clear demonstrations of Yahweh's supremacy over pagan deities and His sovereignty over military powers and even nature. The request for the current enemies to meet a similar fate is therefore a plea for God to vindicate His own name and faithfulness.

Psalm 83 9 Word analysis

• Do to them: (Hebrew: עֲשֵׂה לָהֶם, aseh lahem).

  • Do: Imperative verb, aseh, a direct command or urgent petition to God, implying a desire for divine action and judgment. This is not a human action but a plea for God Himself to intervene forcefully.
  • them: Refers directly to the confederacy of nations listed in Psalm 83:6-8, who conspire against God's people.
  • Significance: Highlights the psalmist's absolute reliance on God for justice and deliverance, acknowledging that human effort alone is insufficient against such overwhelming enemies.

• as you did: (Hebrew: כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתָ, ka'asher 'asita).

  • as: Comparative particle, linking the desired future action to God's past, demonstrated power.
  • you did: Perfect tense verb, referring to completed divine actions. This clause grounds the present prayer in God's historical faithfulness and His established character as the God who fights for His people.
  • Significance: This phrase is a powerful act of remembrance, invoking covenant loyalty and demonstrating faith that God is unchanging and will act consistently with His past deeds.

• to Midian: (Hebrew: לְמִדְיָן, l'midyan).

  • Reference to the Midianite invasion of Israel and their subsequent decisive defeat by Gideon and a small army (Jdg 6-8). The victory was miraculous, relying on God's confusion among the enemy (Jdg 7:22) rather than Israel's might.
  • Significance: Midian's defeat symbolized God's ability to humble the mighty, confound their strategies, and grant victory through weak and unconventional means, ensuring all glory went to Him. It also highlighted a complete and confused rout of the enemy.

• as to Sisera: (Hebrew: כְּסִיסְרָא, k'sis'ra).

  • Reference to Sisera, the formidable commander of Jabin's Canaanite army, known for his 900 iron chariots. He was routed by Deborah and Barak, and famously killed by Jael, a woman (Jdg 4-5).
  • Significance: Sisera's defeat showcases God's sovereignty over mighty military power, using unlikely agents and natural forces (torrential rains, the Kishon swelling) to achieve victory. It further underscores the humiliation of a proud enemy.

• and Jabin: (Hebrew: וְלְיָבִין, v'l'yavin).

  • Jabin, King of Hazor, was Sisera's overlord and a powerful Canaanite monarch who had oppressed Israel for 20 years (Jdg 4:2-3). His kingdom was later utterly destroyed by Barak (Jdg 4:23-24).
  • Significance: Jabin represents the oppressive power structure behind Sisera. His inclusion implies a desire for the complete dismantling of the hostile leadership, not just their foot soldiers. It reflects the destruction of the root of the problem.

• at the river Kishon: (Hebrew: בְּנַחַל קִישׁוֹן, b'nachal Kishon).

  • The precise geographical location of the decisive battle between Israel and Sisera's army (Jdg 4:7, 13; 5:19-21). The Kishon, usually a shallow stream, became a raging torrent after divine intervention, sweeping away Sisera's chariots and drowning his soldiers.
  • Significance: This specific detail highlights God's active involvement using creation itself as a weapon, emphasizing His dominion over nature and His willingness to use it to fight for His people. It points to a thorough, inescapable destruction.

• Word-group Analysis:

  • "Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon.": This entire clause is a powerful literary and theological trope known as an "anamnesis" – a recall of past saving acts of God as the basis for present petition. It transforms the historical narratives into prophetic requests, aligning future divine action with past precedents. The naming of specific individuals (Sisera, Jabin) and the location (Kishon) makes the plea concrete and rooted in God's historical intervention. This also served as a potent polemic against the strength of the pagan nations and their deities, reminding the original audience (and warning the enemies) that Yahweh, who destroyed such formidable foes in the past, remains sovereign. The request for a similar fate (complete and humiliating defeat) reinforces the psalmist's belief in God's justice and omnipotence.

Psalm 83 9 Bonus section

The appeal in Psalm 83:9, using specific historical precedents, highlights the strategic remembrance of God's people. This method of prayer relies on the established track record of God, implying that what He has done, He can and will do again when His name and people are threatened. It transforms historical facts into potent weapons of faith, encouraging believers to recall God's faithfulness in their own lives and the history of His church when facing present trials. The request for such thorough destruction (as Midian, Sisera, and Jabin experienced) underscores the ancient Near Eastern understanding of total war against existential threats and idolatrous nations, where the defeat of enemies was inextricably linked to the vindication of God's name over false gods. It’s a cry for decisive, absolute victory to establish God's reign and remove opposition to His purposes.

Psalm 83 9 Commentary

Psalm 83:9 encapsulates a deep trust in God's consistent character and power. It's a prayer rooted in theological memory, where past divine victories are not mere historical events but living testaments to God's nature. The psalmist, facing a dire threat, asks God to re-enact His famous Judges-era triumphs. These specific historical examples—Midian, Sisera, Jabin, and the Kishon—were chosen precisely because they demonstrate God's capacity to overcome vast military superiority with surprising, humiliating, and complete defeat. Midian fell through confusion and terror; Sisera's iron chariots were rendered useless by divine natural phenomena. The prayer is less about vindictive human emotion and more about God's honor. It implicitly asks God to defend His name (Ps 83:16-18) by showing the current confederacy that He is the only true and powerful God, just as He did to past enemies. It serves as a model for how God's people can appeal to His covenant faithfulness and power in times of overwhelming threat, grounding their petition in His revealed history of deliverance.